question about stocking my 55 gallon tank

[Sco0by4life]

So I'm going to have a 55 gallon tank (36Lx18Dx19H)(53gallon) with about 50 pounds of live rock and a 10 gallon sump.. my skimmer is 75-100 gallon eshops. 40-50 pounds of live sand not crushed coral.. and I will be having hard and soft corals in the tank.
Inverts I would like to have would be 1-2 turbo snails and some bumble bee snails maybe 4-6.. maybe some cleaner shrimp like 3.

So what I'm getting at is what should I stock in my tank. My dream would be a snowflake eel with other fish around him but most the fish id get would prob be eatten by him in some time. like 2 clowns / 3 Kaudern's cardinals / watchmen gobie / royal gramma / Zebra Barred Dartfish 2-3..

Another type of fish I saw I really liked two was the pipefish but I read they have to be fed alot everyday.. There very hard to care for, etc. Instead of the snowflake eel. The one I was interested in was the dragonface. With the same fish I listed above.

If you couldn't tell I love the snake like fish there my favorite I love snakes lol own two myself. Me and my gf have a 55 gallon freshwater wish i could put a ropefish in there but with the setup we have now he prob would eat all our fish hehe.

But ya any help or suggestions with the snowflake eel and tank mates even the pipefish I have been trying to research as much as possible so I thought to myself I might as well just ask. If you guys really don't think the snowflake would work I also like the lionfish to.

Sorry for the Long post if you made it this far thank you for reading and any input would be great.

 

[Dmorty217]

Pipefish are very difficult to keep alive and need a species only tank like seahorses do. Also a very mature tank with lower flow is a must with pipefish. The snowflake will eat your small fish and shrimp for sure. A lion fish gets too big for a 55, a dwarf lion fish could work though. The only mostly reef safe eel there is are ribbons( they will eat small fish though) and zebra morays which may eat snails and shrimp, but not cleaners issue is they get 5ft full grown. Sounds like the fish you mentioned above after the snowflake would make a great list for the tank. Lion fish eat by gulping so anything close to the size of their mouth they will eat.

 

[small alien]

Just a quick point. Kaudern's cardinals should be kept singly or as a mated pair. No trios on that one.

I think Midas blennies are kind of snakey.

 

[Sco0by4life]

Thxs for the feedback.. Looks like I won't be getting the pipefish or snowflake :/ o well.. with the cardinals I read there ok in small groups but if u get to many they will fighteach other.

I looked up the Midas small alien I really like them a lot prob get two of them and work my other fish choices around them. Thank you guys again

 

[Rea17]

Kaudern's cardinals can be kept in groups as young juveniles, but as they mature you'll end up with one or a pair (less likely). Pajama cardinals do better in groups I believe.

Go with one Midas blenny, two will fight.